Is it possible to reduce blood pressure naturally

[dailychallenge]

I have been prescribed blood pressure tablets. My readings were consistently high which we think is after the use of naproxen.

I have stoped taking naproxen. Would rather rely on over the counter anti inflammatory tablets when I need them. Hopefully that will bring readings down.

Can I reduce my blood pressure naturally? Any tips? I feel awful on the BP tablets. My ankles twitch and I feel so bloated that I am going to pop out of my clothes. I barely drink so minimal alcohol. May be one or two gins at home a couple of times a month.

Dh has high blood pressure (on meds for it now). He gave up tea and coffee for lent one year and his BP was back to normal at the end of lent. He couldn't keep at it though - giving up tea was too much for him.

You can get beetroot in tablet form - probably not as good as juice though.

Otherwise exercise, no alcohol, less salt.

There is a Michael Mosely “Just one thing” episode about isometric exercise and impact on BP - def worth a listen!

The dash diet can have a positive effect- not enough on my BP to take me off the meds though

No UPF if not check salt content in list if ingredients
No alcohol
No Smoking
Exercise daily
Meditation
Breath work
Stress relieving exercise Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Somatic

Of course. Exercise, low salt diet, avoid saturated fat.

Dr Alex on YT has a lot of info about diet and high BP.

Thanks all. I will take a proper read of all your comments. I will tighten up on my foods, don’t take salt anyway, drink minimally so can cut out and exercise what I can with my injury. Thanks again.

@dailychallenge how much naproxen were you taking and what was it for ? ..

I'm not fond of beetroot either but I do juices with it mixed with celery and carrot it's not bad

I did not know that about naproxen or ibuprofen so thanks for that info. I have significant hip pain so I had been prescribed naproxen too. Given your knee pAin I imagine exercising is difficult. Can you swim? It's a life saver for me. Swimming front crawl forces me to breathe in a way that is very helpful for my mental health and obviously swimming is a good exercise especially with joint pains.

On pain front I use a tens machine and Doc has given me strong codamol which I just use at night to help with sleeping.

I never knew beetroot was that good for you. Luckily I like beetroot. Off to Google why it is so good.

These are the steps the NHS suggests:

• Be more physically active.
• If you’re overweight, lose some weight.
• Cut down on salt.
• Eat more fruit and vegetables.
• If you drink alcohol, drink within sensible limits.

What's your diet like? You said you don't use salt but so many foods are high in salt including ham, cheese, bought sauces, stock cubes, crisps, olives, pickles, etc etc.

Well I went down a rabbit hole on beetroot. Fascinating. Also Onions, garlic, berries and of course leafy greens are good too.

I think being in pain all the time causes stress which probably adds to BP. I am considering medical cannabis and hypnotherapy for pain management if it worsens. I already use acupuncture alongside Tens and Codamol and I think acupuncture has probably had the biggest impact on my pain. My Tens use is down since trying acupuncture.

Please be careful. My mum was prescribed blood pressure tablets, didn’t take them and ended up having a stroke.

The thing that really made a difference to my BP was changing line manager at work...

I knew he he was a bullying pile of incompetent shit, but I was taken aback by how it had clearly been affecting my health.

A good friend went on the Human Being Diet (Petronella Ravenshear ) to lose weight and manage kidney issues. Completely normalised her previously high BP

when you say you "don't take salt anyway" do you eat bread, crisps, sausages, bacon, eggs ,meat, stock cubes, Instant gravy, jar pasta sauce?
I only realised how much salt was in food when I weaned DD, it is in so much that you sliding expect. I assumed my diet was low salt because I don't put it. On my food but it is only when you check the traffic lights on different things you realise what it is in

Depends on the underlying cause. Mine increased after having preeclampsia several times and never went back to normal levels. Diet or lifestyle does nothing for mine

If you are feeling rough on your BP medication, talk to your GP in case the pills you are on don't suit you. For example, my DH was suffering with constant headaches and they replaced one of the tabs he'd been prescribed with another of the same type but more modern; the problem went away. Good luck with it OP

Lots of different BP meds. Ask your GP for a different one. They will naturally go to certain ones first (cheaper etc) but have a big war chest!

I’m another that was prescribed, tried to lower my BP naturally (diet & exercise) and it wasn’t enough. So back on them but I did change medication and don’t suffer any side effects.

Quit caffiene. I have hbp and was on 3 meds for bp. I was also drinking several litres of diet pepsi a day. I cut it and am now down to one med.

Also, get fitter. You don't need to take up cross fit or extreme cycling, but having 150 min moderate activity a week will help your cardiovascular system. Try dance fit or boxercise, a cycle commute or anything you enjoy really. If your heart works well, you will both help reduce blood pressure and minimise any risks associated with bp.

Lastly, don't rely on ibuprofen as it destroys your stomach lining. Naproxen or diclofenac is softer on the stomach. Or take omeprazole or similar to reduce damage to your stomach.

Lose weight and exercise is unfortunately the advice

In the meantime get them to change your meds, they start you on the cheapest in the hope that will do

I had painfully swollen ankles, got them to change my meds (theres several types) and I feel a hell of a lot better.

Hi all.

my diet is usually this or similar

Greek yoghurt with berries and honey or eggs for breakfast. Very occasionally a cereal bar - I mean very occasionally.

Lunch is chicken with salad or home
made soup with oatcakes. Occasionally a shop bought sandwich.

Dinner will be spaghetti Bol but I have cauliflower rice. Stirfry or salmon with potatoes and veg.

When I say I don’t add salt I don’t add my own salt when cooking. I know there is salt in foods like stock cubes which I use in my soup I use low sodium soy sauce. I make my own tomato sauce so no jarred sauces used.

Re exercise I cannot do anything high impact due to my knee injury. I just can’t. It’s taking
months and months of rehab via the NHS and private rehab clinic to get strength back in it. Sadly I am in a position at the moment that a knee replacement would likely have had a quicker recovery.

Beetroot juice is slightly better if you squeeze an orange into it.

Can you do exercises like planks or wall sits? They have been shown to reduce BP.

Swimming. You can do front crawl using a pull buoy so you don't use your legs if your knee is bad. Distance swimming you only really use legs for direction anyway, not for propulsion (unless you're a pro).

Exercise and losing weight dropped my blood pressure from the red zone right back down to normal range. Took me over two years though.

I think it all depends if it's genetic or not. If it's down the lifestyle choices, then changing those lifestyle factors will help eg reducing salt, drinking less alcohol, getting more exercise etc.

If you already do all of that, you need medication.

My mum is 8 stone and has to take medication for her blood pressure. She says it's been high since her 30s. Mine is quite high too and no doubt I'll have to take medication sometime. The only lifestyle choice I can make is to give up eating crisps, which I did for three months and my blood pressure stayed the same. It's hovering at the top of the 130s.

Try beetroot and aged garlic - it might help. I am trying it currently but not getting my hopes up.